by Penelope Sky
“Well, what are you going to do?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it.”
“I guess we get old…and fat.”
Magnus released a short laugh, the joke making him look like a teenager again. “I don’t think the girls will stick around if we let that happen.”
The happiness on his face made me smile, because these moments had been so rare for the last decade. In fact, I wasn’t sure if they’d ever happened at all. It was all business and nothing else. I’d cared so much about building wealth that I’d neglected the one relationship I actually valued. Now he had someone who valued him the way I should have valued him. “You’ve got a good woman, Magnus. She’s earned my respect.”
His smile disappeared, his look turning serious once again. Visibly touched, he stared for a while, like my approval meant the world to him, when it shouldn’t matter at all. “Thanks. Means a lot to me.”
Everything changed the moment I knew what Raven had done. She was there for my brother when I wasn’t. She saved his life when my negligence would have gotten him killed. The only reason he was in front of me now was because of her bravery, her devotion, and her love. I wished I could take back every insult I’d given her, whether it was to her face or behind her back. She didn’t deserve it. Whether they stayed together or not, I would always look after her, always be there for her for anything she needed. Forever. “I owe her my life…since she saved yours.”
We laid out our plans. Made some calls. Prepared for an attack that would wipe them out for good. With men and guns, we would approach the camp from the rear, kill the new guards in their sleep.
They wouldn’t expect a retaliation so quickly, so we had the element of surprise.
We returned to the girls who were still in the foyer together, sitting side by side with their hands clasped together.
When Raven noticed Magnus approach, she rose to her feet, ready to listen to whatever he said.
“We’re going to hit the camp tomorrow night.” He spoke to her plainly and didn’t mince his words because she could handle it.
Melanie came up to me, but her eyes were on Magnus as she listened.
“And then what?” Raven shifted her gaze to me for a brief moment before she looked at him again.
“We’ll talk when we get home. Come on.” He moved to the front door, gave me a goodbye nod, and then walked out.
Raven followed.
I watched her go, my heartbeat loud in my ears.
Melanie stared at me, like she knew what I was thinking.
I walked out of the foyer and followed them.
Magnus was around the front of one of my cars, ready to open the driver’s door.
Raven’s back was to me.
I walked down to the middle step. “Raven.”
She stilled at the sound of my voice.
Magnus watched me before he shifted his gaze to her. Then he gave her a slight nod.
She slowly turned around and regarded me. War was still on her face. She didn’t like me, and she would never like me.
Fair enough.
But she closed the door and moved up the steps until she was closer to me but still at least six feet back.
The last time I’d spoken to her in private, I was vicious. I’d treated her like a dog. I didn’t do that now.
Magnus got into the car and shut the door, giving us privacy. He was no longer protective.
Because I would die for this woman in a heartbeat.
Her hostile eyes shifted back and forth as she looked at me, waited for me to say words that were long overdue.
“Thank you.”
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
“I couldn’t live without him.”
“I didn’t do it for you.” She kept her voice even despite all the rage she felt for me. It was difficult for her just to be near me because her disdain was so heavy.
“I know why you did it. And I’m glad that’s the reason.” He had a loyal woman who would take a bullet for him the way I would. Couldn’t ask for anything more. “I’m yours for life. Whatever you need—”
“I want the girls to be free.” Her eyes darkened at the request, furious, like she expected my answer to be no.
“I already said yes, but I didn’t do it for you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes automatically welling up with tears of relief.
“My offer remains. You saved his life—mine is yours to claim.”
Her wet eyes took me in, shifting back and forth quickly. “Why?”
“Because you saved his life—”
“No. Why did you agree to free the girls? Magnus?”
It was for a lot of reasons, but I didn’t care to explain. “Because it was time. Time for us all to move on.”
Her fury remained, like that answer wasn’t good enough.
“I’m sorry—for everything.” I never apologized to anyone, so she had no idea how heavy that sentiment was.
It clearly meant nothing to her because she got in the car without looking back.
Magnus started the car, and they drove away.
I watched them go then heard the sound of heels approaching.
Melanie came to my side, her arm sliding through mine. “My sister has a long memory…”
I watched the car until the taillights disappeared. “I don’t expect her to care about a word I said. But I had to say it anyway. She has every right to hate me for the rest of her life. Wouldn’t expect anything less from her.”
“What’s happening?”
I turned to look at her. “We’re taking back the camp.”
“As in, your men are?” Fear danced on the surface of her eyes, wishing for an answer I wouldn’t give.
“Yes. Along with Magnus and me.”
“No…” Her hand released my arm as she stepped back.
“Chérie—”
“They killed everyone at the camp. I don’t want you going back there—”
“I have to.”
“Send someone else—”
“Chérie.”
Her eyes watered as she shook her head.
“Chérie.” My hand cupped her face, trying to calm her with my confidence. “I have to do this.”
“Why?” She turned her cheek into my hand, wanting the callused fingertips for comfort.
“Because I’m the best. So is Magnus.”
“I can’t live without you…”
“I can’t live without you either, chérie. I’ll come back.”
Tears that sparkled like diamonds dripped down her cheeks.
“Nothing will stop me from coming back to you. I will marry you. I will have a family with you. We will live the rest of our lives together—in peace and quiet.” I didn’t know who I was without my business, but looking at her told me who I would become. Husband. Father. Brother. We would be everything that I’d lost.
“Peace?” she whispered.
I nodded. “We’re taking back the camp for vengeance—and freedom.”
Realization came into her eyes. “You’re…you’re letting them go?”
“Yes.”
She cupped her face and stepped back, the revelation hitting her in a way she could barely handle. More tears came. Her breathing skyrocketed. An emotional crescendo washed over her, breaking her in two. “Oh my god…” The look she gave me was unique, special, never seen before. “I knew it…I knew you would.” She dropped her hands from her face and moved into me, gripping me as tightly as if she hung from a cliff. “I always knew.”
The night was spent with her in my arms.
She kissed me in a way she never had before.
Made love to me in a way she never had before.
Our relationship had always been intense and passionate, but it was much deeper now, much bolder.
She’d fallen more in love with me.
She’d never be able to give me that final piece of her, not when I continued to do something she detested. But once she allowed herself t
o, that small piece was heavier than all the rest.
If I’d known, I would have done it much sooner.
She was everything to me. It was hard to believe that she hadn’t always been a part of me, that this powerful connection was recent. My memory played tricks on me, and sometimes I thought she had been in the dumpster with my brother and me. That she was right there with me the night my family died. The connection between us seemed to disobey the laws of physics—because time didn’t apply to us the way it did with everyone else.
When the sun came up the next morning, everything changed.
She knew I’d depart that afternoon, and she couldn’t keep it together.
I was a soldier going off to war—and she was afraid I would leave her widowed.
Tears would come unexpectedly. Panic attacks would strike her and make her hyperventilate. All I could do was kiss her to calm her down, but another round came again…and again.
“Chérie.” My thumbs brushed away her tears as she sat beside me on the couch, her face puffy and red. She’d taken a few painkillers because the tears had brought on a headache she couldn’t defeat. “What happened when you were trapped in that bedroom with Gilbert?”
Her bottom lip trembled as she looked at me.
“I defeated them all—by myself. Nothing stopped me from getting to you. I was outnumbered ten to one. That made no difference. The same will happen tonight. I will slaughter them all, free the girls, and come back to you.”
She nodded slightly. “I just don’t understand why you can’t send someone else, pay them whatever they want.”
My thumbs continued to brush away her tears. “Because I’m the one who did this. I started the camp. I ignored Magnus and got all my men killed. I’m responsible for everything—and I will fix it. I’m not a coward.”
“I know you aren’t. But you should stay…for me.”
I shook my head. “Magnus would never stay. And I can’t let him go in alone. I need to be there to watch his back.”
“He doesn’t need you—”
“Doesn’t matter. Where he goes, I go. You understand that better than anybody.”
She gave a bigger nod through her tears, thinking of her sister.
“I’m going to leave you with Raven at Magnus’s house. You’ll be safe there if I don’t—”
“Don’t fucking say that.” Tears poured down her cheeks. “I don’t…I don’t want to hear that.”
It always hurt to watch her cry, but it hurt even more to see her like this. It was almost enough to make me back out so I could stay there with her.
Almost.
We arrived at the apartment.
She would normally take in the beautiful scenery with a mesmerized gaze.
But right now, she was too delirious to care about anything.
We took the elevator to the main floor and stepped inside.
Magnus and Raven were heard speaking, saying their goodbyes.
Raven sounded identical to Melanie when she spoke to him, tears in her throat. “I never thought I would have a man like this. I just got you…I’m not ready to let you go. You’re supposed to be my husband. We’re supposed to make babies. Please don’t take that away from me.”
Melanie had stopped crying, but she was clearly on the brink of doing it again. With her hand in mine, she let me guide her forward, Magnus and Raven appearing through the main sitting room.
My brother and I stared at each other.
Melanie and Raven did the same.
Magnus turned to Raven, ready to say his final goodbye.
With wet eyes, Raven stared at him, unable to speak because it hurt so much.
Magnus moved to her, cupped her face, and kissed her.
She clutched him tightly. “I love you.”
Magnus let her hold on to him as long as she needed before he turned away. “I love you too.” He moved past me and approached the elevator, purposely not turning back to Raven, like it was too hard to look at her again.
I stared at Melanie, hating to abandon her when she was in distress. There was nothing I could say to make this better, not when I’d already said everything I could a million times. There was only one thing that I should say a million times. “Je t’aime, chérie.”
Her eyes watered, but she didn’t say it back, like if she didn’t say it, I would never leave.
I turned away, knowing she would never say it if it kept me there.
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, moving into my chest as she gripped me so hard that twenty men couldn’t pull her off me. “Je t’aime…”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead then forced myself to leave her behind.
To walk out with my brother.
To know that there was a chance I might never return.
We stepped into the elevator and waited for the doors to close.
The girls held on to each other, side by side, their hands coming together in solidarity of their pain.
Magnus couldn’t look. His eyes remained on the floor.
The doors closed.
Magnus released the breath he was holding and lifted his chin, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
My hand went to his shoulder. “It’ll be over soon, brother.”
We infiltrated the camp.
The men made it over the wall, and we spread out.
But then the alarm rang.
Not sure who saw us, but it didn’t matter.
They would all be dead soon anyway.
I broke in to the first cabin. The men were half asleep in their bunks, hearing the alarm but not quite awake enough to respond to it. But when they saw my silhouette in the darkness, they screamed.
“Shoot him!”
My knife slid into his throat, killing him instantly. The man beside him got up to run, but I slammed the butt of my knife into his head, knocking him out instantly. Shouts sounded, and the men fumbled for their guns in the darkness, too disoriented to do anything before I got to them. They were both down in seconds.
Off to the next cabin.
The next row of cabins was for the girls, so I kicked down each door so they could run if a fire started.
When the door smashed in, they all screamed.
“Stay where you are. You’ll be free in a few moments.”
Maybe they recognized me in the darkness. Maybe they didn’t. But none of them moved.
Men ran out of their cabins in response to the assault. Gunfire pierced the darkness once it had become an all-out war. Men collapsed to the ground on both sides, mowed down by the spray of bullets. I hid behind a cabin when one of their men ran out, and I stabbed him right between the ribs and watched him collapse. His comrade ran back, knowing I was out there.
I chased him down and slit his throat.
Blood was all over me.
The screaming continued.
Women screamed too, having no idea if they would be slaughtered or freed.
My eyes immediately scanned for Magnus, making sure that he was okay, that he was enjoying this killing spree as much as I was.
Didn’t see him anywhere.
I ran across the clearing, making it to the next cabin before the bullets meant for me hit their mark. They struck the wooden cabin, making the girls inside scream. I counted the bullets and ran to the next building as they reloaded. Farther and farther I went, killing the men I came across, searching the area where Magnus was supposed to be.
Then I saw him.
Napoleon.
Napoleon slammed his cane into Magnus’s skull, making him too disoriented to fight. Both on the ground and fighting to the death.
This was happening because of me.
Because I didn’t fucking listen.
I sprinted, and instead of holding my silence to give me the element of surprise, I screamed. “Magnus!” He needed to know that I was coming, to keep fighting because I would be there in two seconds. “Get the fuck off him!” Rage like I’d never known hit me so fucking hard, gave me adrenaline I�
�d never experienced before. My brother was bloody and bruised, seconds away from death if I didn’t get there in time.
Magnus had the strength to kick Napoleon away, to extend his life long enough for me to get there.
I slid to my knees and pulled out my knife, moving over Magnus to protect him before I slaughtered this motherfucker.
But he was quicker.
He spun backward, his hidden knife at the ready, and hit me dead in the center of my stomach.
I’d never been stabbed. Hardly been nicked. The air left my lungs. My body shut down. The fight left me even though I didn’t feel an ounce of pain. The last thing I did before I collapsed was share a look with Magnus.
Napoleon’s voice was full of victory. “Two-for-one special.”
Then I hit the earth.
My brother’s scream split the night. “No!”
I lay there on my back, my heart racing, the blood pooling around me.
I couldn’t even talk, I was so stunned. All I could do was think.
Win, Magnus.
I could only stare at the sky, look at the stars that watched me fade away. The sounds of fighting were right next to me, Napoleon and Magnus both grunting and crawling in the dirt, fighting to be the victor.
I couldn’t watch.
Come on, brother.
I couldn’t watch my brother die.
My faith had died the night my mother was killed. But in that moment, I prayed. Not to God, but to her. Mom, please. Help him.
My brother’s victory scream tore through the air. “Die, motherfucker!” He slammed something down on Napoleon over and over again, grunting with every hit, blood spraying everywhere.
I closed my eyes in relief, knowing she was still here. Thank you.
Magnus took a few deep breaths before he crawled to me, his face appearing in my vision, caked in blood that wasn’t his. “Fender!” His eyes shifted to the knife that was still stuck inside me. “I’m here.” His eyes lingered on the knife for a long time, his eyes falling in pain. “You’re going to be alright…” His look gave him away like it always did. He looked over his shoulder and shouted for help. “I need a medic! Satellite phone! Get over here!”
I knew my fate before he said a word.
